Demand Flexibility from HVAC Systems

Course Description

Stephanie Ross, Senior Data Scientist at EnergyHub, provides an overview of demand flexibility from HVAC systems, including what an HVAC demand response is, a typical HVAC demand response event, and the growing importance of HVAC demand response. Ms. Ross walks through the history of HVAC demand response and its associated technologies, demand response from a utility perspective, and the transition from demand response to demand flexibility.

Recorded May 22, 2025.

Learning Objectives:

• Discuss what HVAC demand response is, how it works, and why it is used.
• Identify the technologies that are emerging flexible loads that utilities are looking to tap into.
• Summarize the move from demand response to demand flexibility.
• Define dynamic load shaping for grid and customer comfort.

About the Instructor:

Stephanie Ross has a diverse work experience in various industries. They are currently employed as a Data Scientist at EnergyHub since April 2023. Prior to that, they worked as a Grid Strategist at Green Mountain Power from January 2022 to March 2023. Earlier in their career, they worked as an Associate at The Brattle Group from January 2020 to November 2021. Before that, they served as a Graduate Research Assistant at the University of Michigan from September 2014 to January 2020. They also worked as an Engineer at FINsix Corporation from August 2013 to August 2014. In addition, they gained experience as a Teaching Fellow at the Advanced Studies Program at St. Paul’s School from June 2013 to July 2013. They also held positions as an Engineering Intern at Ekotrope from March 2013 to June 2013, a Researcher at Little Devices Lab at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology from June 2012 to August 2012, an Engineering Intern at Solaflect Energy from June 2011 to August 2011, and a Study Group Leader at Thayer School of Engineering at Dartmouth from June 2011 to August 2011.

Ms. Ross completed a Bachelor of Engineering (BE) in Electrical Engineering from Dartmouth College between 2008 and 2013. Following this, they pursued further studies at the University of Michigan, where they obtained a Master of Science (M.S.) in Electrical Engineering: Systems from 2014 to 2016. They then continued their education at the University of Michigan and earned a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Electrical Engineering: Systems between 2014 and 2020.

Course Outline

• What is HVAC Demand Response?

• History and Technologies of HVAC Demand Response

• Utility Perspective

• Moving from Demand Response to Demand Flexibility

• Question & Answer Session